Patent Info

NEW YORK, October 9, 2012 — BuildingLink.com, LLC announced today that the United States Patent & Trademark Office has granted the company U.S. Patent No. 8,271,321 covering important features of its industry-leading software platform. The patent was issued on September 18, 2012.

Click here to view the press release. Click here to view/download a PDF copy of the patent.

FAQ regarding U.S. Patent No. 8,271,321

Q:

Tell me more about BuildingLink’s patent.

A:

BuildingLink’s patent is U.S. Patent No. 8,271,321 for “Apparatus and Method for Providing Building Management Information.” It was originally filed on June 5, 2000.

The ’321 patent discloses and claims many unique features related to collaborative real estate management. For example, some of these innovative features currently included in the BuildingLink software platform relate to front desk instructions, permissions to give access to a unit, key-holding information, service requests, electronic libraries of documents, notifications, public displays, and/or data input by tenants.

Q:

What are the implications of BuildingLink owning the ’321 patent?

A:

By owning the ’321 patent, BuildingLink owns the exclusive rights to make, use, and sell the unique features recited in the claims of the patent (i.e., the sentences numbered 1-41 listed at the very end of the patent). These claims define the legal scope of BuildingLink’s invention and thus define the extent to which BuildingLink’s exclusive rights apply.

Q:

What are the implications if one of BuildingLink’s competitors practices any of the inventions claimed in the ’321 patent?

A:

If an entity without BuildingLink’s permission practices, or makes, sells or uses a product or service that practices any claim in BuildingLink’s ’321 patent, then it infringes the patent. If this is the case, BuildingLink may pursue legal action against the infringer to stop it from infringing the patent and/or to seek compensation for the infringing activity.

Q:

Where can I go to read the full patent text?

A:

The full text of the patent can be found online here, or you can view/download a PDF copy here.

Q:

Is BuildingLink willing to license rights to practice the inventions claimed in the ’321 patent?

A:

BuildingLink welcomes inquiries regarding its patent, and is happy to discuss potential licensing opportunities. Anyone who would like to discuss these opportunities in more detail can contact Rina Furst via e-mail at rina@buildinglink.com

Q:

Does BuildingLink have other patent applications pending?

A:

Yes. BuildingLink currently has other patent applications pending. Some of these applications claim priority to the patent application that resulted in the ’321 patent and seek protection for additional innovative features of the BuildingLink system.

One application discloses and claims features generally related to managing service requests and, more particularly, to methods and systems for managing service requests that enable collaborative information sharing between an occupant of a building and an individual associated with building operations.

Another application discloses and claims features generally related to package custody management and, more particularly, to methods and systems that enable building personnel to manage inbound receipt, custody tracking, and occupant receipt of package deliveries for occupants in a building.